Health Research Critique Part 2

Please help me with some beginning information so that I can prepare a critical analysis of a quantitative study focusing on protection of human participants, data collection, data management and analysis, problem statement, and interpretation of findings.

To write a critical appraisal that demonstrates comprehension of the research study conducted, and respond to each of the action items listed under the headings below.

CRITICAL APPRAISAL GUIDELINES: QUANTITATIVE STUDY
Introduction
• Develop a topic sentence in which you will define the purpose of the Research Critique, Part 2
• Formulate a thesis statement which briefly provides a broad indication of your point of view in composing this assignment.
• Include a summary outline to describe the organization and main topics you will include in the body paragraphs of the assignments (see below sections).
Protection of Human Participants
• Identify the benefits and risks of participation addressed by the authors. Were there benefits or risks the authors do not identify?
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects or participants?
• Did it seem that the subjects participated voluntarily in the study?
• Was institutional review board approval obtained from the agency in which the study was conducted?

Data Collection
• Are the major variables (independent and dependent variables) identified and defined? What were these variables?
• How were data collected in this study?
• What rationale did the author provide for using this data collection method?
• Identify the time period for data collection of the study.
• Describe the sequence of data collection events for a participant.

Data Management and Analysis
• Describe the data management and analysis methods used in the study.
• Did the author discuss how the rigor of the process was assured? For example, does the author describe maintaining a paper trail of critical decisions that were made during the analysis of the data? Was statistical software used to ensure accuracy of the analysis?
• What measures were used to minimize the effects of researcher bias (their experiences and perspectives)? For example, did two researchers independently analyze the data and compare their analyses?

Findings / Interpretation of Findings: Implications for Practice and Future Research
• What is the researcher's interpretation of findings?
• Are the findings valid or an accurate reflection of reality? Do you have confidence in the findings?
• What limitations of the study were identified by researchers?
• Was there a coherent logic to the presentation of findings?
• What implications do the findings have for nursing practice? For example, can the study findings be applied to general nursing practice, to a specific population, to a specific area of nursing?
• What suggestions are made for further studies?

Conclusion
• Emphasize the importance and congruity of the thesis statement
• Provide a logical wrap-up to bring the appraisal to completion and to leave a lasting impression and take-away points useful in nursing practice.
• Incorporate a critical appraisal and a brief analysis of the utility and applicability of the findings to nursing practice.
• Integrate a summary of the knowledge learned.

Solution Preview

Benchmark - Research Critique
This guide uses the article titled "Cannabis use in HIV for pain and other medical symptoms." Taken from the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2004.

The following are responses to each of the questions from the research guideline headings using the study above to illustrate the appraisal process of the article or study.

Problem Statement
1. Introduction
1.1 Develop a topic sentence in which you will define the purpose of the Research Critique, Part 2
1.1.1 This write up is a critical appraisal of the study on Cannabis use in HIV for pain and other medical symptoms
1.2 Formulate a thesis statement which briefly provides a broad indication of your point of view in composing this assignment.
1.2.1 The use of cannabis in medicine is still a very sensitive issue; many patients around the world use marijuana illegally for treatment (Grella 2014, Woodridge 2005, Wesner 1996) Studies must therefore demonstrate the protection of participants in their methodology. The current marijuana laws make it difficult for research studies to find volunteers to freely participate in an endeavour to validate the therapeutic efficacy claims for cannabis in medicine

Protection of Human Participants

1.3 Identify the benefits and risks of participation addressed by the authors. Were there benefits or risks the authors do not identify?
1.3.1 The benefits of participation addressed by the authors include reports of improved HIV symptoms (signs of sickness experienced by patients due to the disease or the medicines used to treat the disease), improved symptoms of nerve pain , depression and nausea which are common in HIV patients.
1.3.2 The risks of participation addressed by the authors include the risk of alteration of viral loads (the number of viral particles in the body) in patients concomitantly using antiretroviral therapy in the class of drugs called protease inhibitors. The other risks were worsening of symptoms due to the use of cannabis and loss of participant anonymity and the risk of cancer from smoking marijuana.
1.3.3 The benefits that authors do not identify include the potential for reduction of stigma associated with use of marijuana in future as well as the contribution to the body of knowledge in this area
1.3.4 The risks the authors do not adequately identify include the possible prosecution for illicit marijuana use of participants while taking part in the study

1.3.5 Was informed consent obtained from the subjects or participants?
1.3.6 Only verbal consent was sought from participants as written consent would have affected participant anonymity
1.4 Whether it seemed that the subjects participated ...

Solution Summary

This is a guide on a critical analysis of a quantitative study focusing on protection of human participants, data collection, data management and analysis, problem statement, and interpretation of findings. The quantitative research article chosen was on the use of cannabis in HIV where data was collected from particpants on the basis of anonimity.
This presentation in point form has addressed questions raised in the Critical Appraisal Guideline to facilitate generate thought as the student finalizes the write up.